Axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel

Abstract

A compact and light weight axle unit with good durability and reliability for driving a vehicle wheel is provided wherein the splined bore 28 of the hub 6 a is engaged with the splined shaft 30 of the drive shaft member 29 , and a stop ring 35 is held between the outer engagement groove 25 on the inner peripheral surface of the splined bore 28 and the inner engagement groove 24 on the outer peripheral surface of the splined shaft 30 to prevent the splined shaft 30 from being removed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel comprising: 
       a bearing assembly comprising an outer ring to a suspension provided in a vehicle body and an inner peripheral surface formed with an outer ring raceway thereon, and a rotatable inner ring having a flange to which a tire is connected, and an outer peripheral surface formed with an inner ring raceway thereon, and a first circumferential fitting surface formed with a first spline, and the inner ring further having a first engagement portion,  
       a constant velocity joint having an outer ring having a second circumferential fitting surface provided at an end on the outer side of the vehicle body and formed with a second spline for spline engagement with the first spline of the inner ring, and the constant velocity joint further having a second engagement portion,  
       an engagement member adapted to be resiliently deformed in a radial direction, and engaged with the first engagement portion of the bearing assembly and with the second engagement portion of the constant velocity joint, so that the bearing assembly is connected to the constant velocity joint through the engagement member in the axial direction,  
       an outer seal for sealing the spline engagement on the outer side of the vehicle body, and  
       an inner seal for sealing the spline engagement on the inner side of the vehicle body.  
     
     
       2. The axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel of claim  1 , wherein the engagement member is a stop ring. 
     
     
       3. The axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel of claim  1 , wherein the spline engagement contains a lubricant agent thereon. 
     
     
       4. The axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel of claim  1 , wherein the inner seal has a resilient member to supply the engagement member with a resilient force in the axial direction. 
     
     
       5. The axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel of claim  1 , wherein the outer seal has a cap fixed to the inner ring of the bearing assembly. 
     
     
       6. An axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel comprising: 
       a bearing assembly comprising an outer ring fixed to a suspension provided in a vehicle body and an inner peripheral surface formed with an outer ring raceway thereon, and a rotatable inner ring assembly comprising a hub and an inner ring and having a flange to which a tire is connected, and an outer peripheral surface formed with an inner ring raceway, and a first circumferential fitting surface formed with a first spline, and the inner ring further having a first engagement portion,  
       a constant velocity joint having a housing portion forming an outer ring and having a second circumferential fitting surface provided at an end on the axially outer side of the vehicle body, the second circumferential fitting surface being formed with a second spline for spline engagement with the first spline of the inner ring, and the constant velocity joint further having a second engagement portion,  
       an engagement member adapted to be resiliently deformed in a radial direction, and engaged with the first engagement portion of the bearing assembly and with the second engagement portion of the constant velocity joint, so that the bearing assembly is connected to the constant velocity joint through the engagement member in the axial direction,  
       an outer seal for sealing the spline engagement on the axially outer side of the vehicle body, and  
       an inner seal for sealing the spline engagement on the axially inner side of the vehicle body.  
     
     
       7. The axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel of claim  6 , wherein the engagement member is a stop ring. 
     
     
       8. The axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel of claim  6 , wherein the spline engagement contains a lubricant agent thereon. 
     
     
       9. The axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel of claim  6 , wherein the inner seal has a resilient member to supply the engagement member with a resilient force in the axial direction. 
     
     
       10. The axle unit for driving a vehicle wheel of claim  6 , wherein the outer seal has a cap fixed to the rotatable inner ring of the bearing assembly.